THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 95 



it is known as the Native Pheasant. The bird may readily be 

 recognized by the black ruff or shoulder feathers. They are dark, 

 glossy green, prominent in the cock bird but rather undeveloped 

 in the female. The back of the bird is mottled with dark reddish- 

 brown and black. 



The food of the Ruffed Grouse consists largely of wild 

 berries, fruits and buds. In some of the stomachs I have ex- 

 amined, I have found catkins of hazel and alder ; also pieces 

 of leaves. In one stomach I found a part of a toad-stool. During 

 the fall season around the edge of the fields the birds often pick 

 up wheat that has fallen after the harvest, although wheat is not 

 essential as a food. They are very fond of wild crab-apples. 



The Ruffed Grouse may be raised in captivity and with a 

 little care the bird becomes quite tame. The most interesting 

 experiment that has ever been made in raising this bird in 

 confinement, was made by Mr. C. F. Hodge, of the University of 

 Oregon. In The Oregon Sportsman for March, 1914, Mr. Hodge 

 published a very interesting account of the Ruffed Grouse, giving 

 some of his experiences. 



It is the same in the case of the Ruffed Grouse as in somt- 

 of our other birds, climate has considerable effect upon the 

 plumage. The Ruffed Grouse of western Oregon (Bonasa um- 

 bellus sabini) has the reddish phase of dress. It is quite different 

 from the Canadian Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus togata) of 

 the northeastern part of the state, which has the gray plumage 

 instead of the red-brown. W. L. F. 



SPORTSMEN WIN IN PENNSYLVANIA. 



By a vote of 111 to 55, the lower house of the Pennsylvania 

 legislature, on March 17, appropriated the $334,800 collected in 

 that state for hunters' licenses to the State Game Commission. 

 Objection was made to the bill, as it carried provisions that the 

 salary of the commission be raised from $4000 to $5000, increased 

 the pay of wardens from $900 to $1200 a year, and added thirty 

 new wardens to the twenty already employed. Evidently the 

 legislators of the Keystone state, or a majority of them, believe 

 in applying money to the purposes for which it is collected. 

 Other state legislatures would do well to follow Pennsylvania's 

 example. — American Field. 



